New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Doimtamanefla’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Doimtamanefla’ characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely and early flowering habit; relatively large red purple and light red bi-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOIMTAMANEFLA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Doimtamanefla’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Koka, Ethiopia and Rheinberg, Germany. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new early and freelyflowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with large attractive flowers andgood garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventors in November, 2012 in Koka, Ethiopia of a proprietary selectionof Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN10-003550-005, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofImpatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN-1184, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered andselected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany in April, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince June, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this newImpatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Doimtamanefla’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Doimtamanefla’ as a new and distinctImpatiens plant:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Freely and early flowering habit.    -   6. Relatively large red purple and light red bi-colored flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more mounding than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have dark red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have rose red and orange red bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatienshawkeri ‘Duepetnn11’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,946. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Duepetnn11’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Duepetnn11’ differ        in lower surface color as lower surfaces of leaves of plants of        ‘Duepetnn11’ are red purple in color.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens flower later than plants of        ‘Duepetnn11’.    -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants        of ‘Duepetnn11’.    -   4. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Duepetnn11’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Duepetnn11’ have red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of Impatienshawkeri ‘Duemagfi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,912. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Duemagfi’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants        of ‘Duemagfi’.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Duemagfi’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Duemagfi’ have light red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Doimtamanefla’ grown in acontainer.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Doimtamanefla’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the winter in 16.5-cm containersin a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and undercultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiensproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesaveraged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levelsranged from 4,500 to 5,500 lux. Plants were 25 weeks old when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Doimtamanefla’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens            hawkeri identified as code number NN10-003550-005, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens            hawkeri identified as code number NN-1184, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to            seven days at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About three to four weeks at temperatures about 20°            C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and            mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about            eight to ten primary lateral branches each with about four            to six secondary lateral branches developing per plant;            moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid            growth rate.        -   Height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 22.5 cm.        -   Height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 23.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 52 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 19 cm.        -   Diameter, primary lateral branches.—About 1.3 cm.        -   Diameter, secondary lateral branches.—About 8 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—About 15° to 45° from vertical.        -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.        -   Color, when developing.—Close to 183B.        -   Color, fully developed.—Close to 187A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of four to six leaves;            simple.        -   Length.—About 12 cm.        -   Width.—About 4.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire with ciliation.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;            slightly glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A;            venation, close to 148C. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to 185A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to            185A to 185B. Color, lower surface: Close to 183B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Relatively large single            rounded to axillary flowers; freely flowering habit,            typically about 140 flowers developing per plant; flowers            positioned above and beyond the foliar plane; flowers            typically face mostly upright to outwardly.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about two to three            days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals            self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse            conditions; in the garden, flowering continuous from spring            until fall in California; early flowering habit, plants            typically begin flowering about twelve weeks after planting.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.7 cm.            Shape: Ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly            glossy. Color: Close to 53C.        -   Flower diameter.—About 8 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 2.4 cm; with spur, about 8.2 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a            single whorl. Banner petals, length: About 3.8 cm. Banner            petals, width: About 6.2 cm. Lateral petals, length: About            3.8 cm. Lateral petals, width: About 4.8 cm. Lower petals,            length: About 4.8 cm. Lower petals, width: About 5.5 cm.            Shape: Cordate. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire; margins tend to recurve. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Color:            When opening, upper surface: Center and towards the base,            close to N74A; towards the apex and margins, close to 53B.            When opening, lower surface: Center and towards the base,            close to N66C; towards the apex and margins, close to 45C.            Fully opened, upper surface: Center and towards the base,            close to N74A to N74B; towards the apex and margins, close            to 46C to 46D; venation, close to N74A; color does not fade            with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Towards the            apex and margins, close to 46D transitioning towards the            base to 47C to 47D, 63B and N74D; venation, close to 63B;            with development, color becoming closer to 47C to 47D and            towards the base, close to N74D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;            two lateral sepals and one center sepal modified into an            elongated spur. Lateral sepals, length: About 1.2 cm.            Lateral sepals, width: About 7 mm. Center sepals, length:            About 2.2 cm. Center sepals, width: About 1.5 cm. Shape:            Elliptical. Apex: Acuminate. Base, lateral sepals: Truncate.            Base, center sepal: Modified into a curved spur, fused into            a slender tube. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 145C. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 73C to 73D; towards the apex, close to            N74B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 68C. Spur            length: About 6 cm. Spur diameter: At the flower, about            2 mm. Spur texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly            glossy. Spur color: Close to 59B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Angle: About 45° from branch axis. Strength: Strong. Texture            and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close            to 59A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at            anthers; filaments free. Filament length: About 2 mm.            Filament color: Close to 47A. Anther size: About 3 mm by            6 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 161B.            Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158B.            Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            7 mm. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded.            Stigma color: Close to 157A. Style length: About 1 mm. Style            color: Close to 157A. Ovary color: Close to 146A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not            been observed on plants of the new Impatiens to date.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Impatiens    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common    to Impatiens plants to date.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging    from about 5° C. to about 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named‘Doimtamanefla’ as illustrated and described.